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A review by thekindredreader
In a Jam by Kate Canterbary
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
[4.5 Stars] In A Jam is an endearing and sweet romance that instantly became a favorite, and Kate Canterbary did a fantastic job creating the setting, fleshing out the characters, and writing a compelling story. I felt like I was living on a farm in a small-town Rhode Island--even though I live in Alabama.
Here's what I loved:
Funny internal monologues and dialogues.
Kate Canterbary wrote scenes that balanced seriousness and light-hearted, but she also had scenes that were just outright funny, sweet, or hot (the football game scene is one I'll remember for a long time). I laughed a lot while reading In a Jam.
NOAH.
There's not much to say about Noah other than he was pretty close to perfect. His imperfect/perfect parenting of Gennie was an element that gave his character additional depth and emotional gravity. His devotion and pining for Shay make him so freaking adorable (I mean, he named his farm after memories of her!), and that makes him a total book boyfriend.
Body positivity.
I was so happy to read a book that 1.) had a female protagonist that wasn't a stick figure and 2.) focused more on the characters' hearts and personalities than their appearances. Were they both hot? Yes. But it wasn't their sole personality trait.
However, what held me back from giving In a Jam a 5-star rating is that I thought the resolution between Noah and Shay was weak. While I appreciate that there was not a "3rd Act break-up", I thought Noah deserved a better ending. He spent so many years loving Shay while she was completely oblivious, and they didn't have a long enough conversation to talk about his feelings toward her and his motivations for marrying her. Instead, his grand gesture did all the talking, and his feelings are never brought up again.
Overall, In A Jam was a surprisingly salty/bitter/sweet read that I loved from beginning to end, and I hope that all of Kate Canterbary's books are like this because I plan to read them all!
Here's what I loved:
Funny internal monologues and dialogues.
Kate Canterbary wrote scenes that balanced seriousness and light-hearted, but she also had scenes that were just outright funny, sweet, or hot (the football game scene is one I'll remember for a long time). I laughed a lot while reading In a Jam.
NOAH.
There's not much to say about Noah other than he was pretty close to perfect. His imperfect/perfect parenting of Gennie was an element that gave his character additional depth and emotional gravity. His devotion and pining for Shay make him so freaking adorable (I mean, he named his farm after memories of her!), and that makes him a total book boyfriend.
Body positivity.
I was so happy to read a book that 1.) had a female protagonist that wasn't a stick figure and 2.) focused more on the characters' hearts and personalities than their appearances. Were they both hot? Yes. But it wasn't their sole personality trait.
However, what held me back from giving In a Jam a 5-star rating is that I thought the resolution between Noah and Shay was weak. While I appreciate that there was not a "3rd Act break-up", I thought Noah deserved a better ending. He spent so many years loving Shay while she was completely oblivious, and they didn't have a long enough conversation to talk about his feelings toward her and his motivations for marrying her. Instead, his grand gesture did all the talking, and his feelings are never brought up again.
Overall, In A Jam was a surprisingly salty/bitter/sweet read that I loved from beginning to end, and I hope that all of Kate Canterbary's books are like this because I plan to read them all!
Content Warnings
Minor: Abandonment